You can win scholarships in the Netherlands without IELTS. Dutch scholarships almost never set their own English test; they use the admission rule of your university, and every Dutch university I checked exempts some applicants from IELTS or TOEFL. The usual ways to qualify are a degree or secondary schooling taught fully in English in a recognised English-speaking country, an English-taught IB diploma, or, at some universities, a degree taught in English in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya.
The exemption lists differ a lot from one university to the next. Groningen accepts English-taught degrees from about 30 extra countries and regions, while TU Delft exempts only six countries. This guide sets out each university’s rule for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 entry, the tests they accept if you are not exempt, and the scholarships with deadlines between December 2026 and April 2027. It focuses on English test waivers. For the government-funded awards, read our guide to Netherlands government scholarships.
How English test exemptions work in the Netherlands
Three things decide whether you are exempt:
- Where you studied. Your passport usually does not count. TU Delft is the exception, because it exempts citizens of six English-speaking countries.
- Whether your whole programme was taught in English, and whether your documents prove it.
- Which university and programme you apply to. Some programmes at the same university add their own rules.
Proof matters as much as the rule itself. Groningen accepts a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from your university if your transcript does not say “taught in English”. Twente does not: it wants English named as the language of instruction on the certificate, final transcript or diploma supplement, and says a university letter is not enough.
English test exemptions by university
| University | Exempt if you studied in English in | Accepts African English-taught degrees? | Other routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Groningen | UK, US, Canada (not Quebec), Ireland, Australia, NZ, Malta and Caribbean countries (school or degree) | Yes: degree from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cameroon (Anglophone system), and others | IB in English; 3 A-levels at A to C; European Baccalaureate English L1/L2; many European school diplomas with English |
| Leiden University | US, UK, Ireland, NZ, Australia, Canada (not French-taught), Singapore, South Africa, Malta (entire school or higher education) | South Africa only | IB taught in English or with English A HL; English-taught Dutch university degree |
| VU Amsterdam (master’s) | School or higher education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, UK, US; degree in Singapore or South Africa | South Africa only | Any fully English-taught bachelor’s or master’s from the EU/EEA; IB in English |
| University of Amsterdam, Graduate School of Humanities | Bachelor’s from US, Canada (not Quebec), Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland | Possibly: any fully English-taught accredited bachelor’s of 3 years or more, with a registrar’s statement | IB in English; formal exemption request to the Examinations Board |
| Wageningen University (MSc) | Degree on campus in Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, Singapore, South Africa, UK, US | South Africa only | English-taught Dutch degree; 24 ECTS of English-taught courses at a Dutch university |
| University of Twente (master’s) | 3-year degree studied physically in Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, UK, US | Depends on UT’s country list (Zambia is named) | No individual waivers outside the rules |
| TU Delft (MSc) | Bachelor’s from Australia, Canada, Ireland, NZ, UK, US | No | Citizens of those six countries are exempt; overseas branch campuses do not count |
| Erasmus University, RSM (IBA bachelor’s) | At least 2 years of English-taught secondary school in US, UK, Canada (not Quebec), Ireland, Australia, NZ, South Africa | South Africa (English Home Language) | IB, A-levels or US high school diploma with the last 2 years in English; IGCSE First Language English grade B (5) or higher |
University of Groningen: the widest list
For 2027/28, Groningen has three exemption routes. List A covers school or university completed fully in English in the main English-speaking countries. List B covers a full-time English-taught bachelor’s of at least three years, or a postgraduate degree, from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Cameroon (Anglophone system only), the Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Singapore and South Africa. List C covers school diplomas with English at pre-university level, such as the IB, three A-levels at grades A to C, and many European diplomas.
Master’s applicants should read the small print. Groningen says the master’s exemption normally rests on a degree from a list A or B country taught only in English. If your diploma does not say this, upload an MOI letter in the language test section of the Progress Portal.
Leiden University
Leiden bases exemption on your education, not your nationality. You are exempt if your entire secondary or higher education was taught in English in one of nine countries, including Singapore, South Africa and Malta. A school abroad accredited in one of those systems also counts. Leiden can still ask for a test if your documents raise doubts. If you plan to apply for the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship, sort out your English proof before its 1 December 2026 deadline.
University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam
UvA’s Graduate School of Humanities accepts any fully English-taught, accredited bachelor’s of three years or more. You prove it with a sealed, registrar-signed statement or your diploma supplement; personal statements are not accepted. You can also ask its Examinations Board for a formal exemption. That takes up to four weeks, so the request deadlines are 1 January, 1 February and 15 April 2027 for the 1 February, 1 March and 15 May master’s deadlines. Other UvA faculties may set different rules.
VU Amsterdam exempts English-taught degrees from Singapore, South Africa and any EU/EEA country. Its own VU-test (€150) is not accepted for non-EU/EEA students who need a study visa.
Wageningen, Twente and TU Delft
These three are stricter. Wageningen needs the degree to have been taken on campus in the exempt country, not online and not as part of a double degree. Twente needs three years of physical study in the country and says it gives no individual waivers. TU Delft exempts citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US, or anyone with a bachelor’s from those countries. It states that an English-taught degree from anywhere else does not qualify.
Check before you rely on it
An English-taught degree from Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya exempts you at Groningen, but not at TU Delft, Wageningen or Leiden. If you are applying to several Dutch universities, you may need a test score for some of them anyway.
Scholarships in the Netherlands without IELTS: 2027 deadlines
None of these scholarships set a separate English test for exempt students, except Twente’s UTS. They follow the admission rule of the programme you are admitted to.
| Scholarship | Value | Who | Deadline (CET) | English rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarship | Full tuition plus a living cost contribution, for a 2-year MSc | International MSc applicants, roughly top 10% of their class | 1 Dec 2026, 23:59 | English certificate unless exempt |
| Leiden University Excellence Scholarship | €10,000 to €19,000 off tuition | Non-EEA master’s applicants | 1 Dec 2026 | Leiden’s admission rule |
| Radboud Scholarship Programme | Tuition cut to about €2,771 (to be confirmed), plus visa and insurance | Non-EU/EEA master’s applicants with a non-Dutch bachelor’s; up to 26 awards | 31 Jan 2027 (complete file by 14 Feb 2027) | The programme’s own requirement |
| University of Twente Scholarship (UTS) | €3,000 to €22,000 for one year | Non-EU/EEA master’s applicants in the top 5 to 10% | 1 Apr 2027, 16:00 (opened 15 Oct 2026) | Page lists IELTS 6.5 (speaking 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 90 |
| NL Scholarship | €5,000, first year only | Non-EEA bachelor’s and master’s students at participating institutions | Set by each institution (Groningen: 1 Feb 2027) | The institution’s admission rule |
If you are exempt from English tests and want Twente’s UTS, email UT before you book a test. The scholarship page states a score, and I could not confirm whether an admission exemption satisfies it.
If you are not exempt: accepted tests and scores
All the universities above accept IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT, and most also accept Cambridge C1/C2, PTE Academic and LanguageCert Academic. Groningen also accepts Linguaskill. Duolingo is not accepted at RSM, and none of the other universities list it.
| University (example level) | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT (old / new scale) | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groningen, Level 1 | 6.0 (6.0 each) | 80 / 4.0 | PTE 61; LanguageCert 65; Cambridge or Linguaskill 169 |
| Groningen, Level 2 | 6.5 | 90 / 4.5 | PTE 66; LanguageCert 70; Cambridge 180 |
| Wageningen MSc | 6.5 (speaking 6.0) | 90 / 4.5 | PTE 62; LanguageCert 67 |
| RSM IBA bachelor’s | 6.5 (6.0 each) | 80 | PTE 70; LanguageCert 70; Cambridge 170 |
| TU Delft MSc | 7.0 (6.5 each) | 100 / 5 | Cambridge 185 |
| UvA Humanities master’s | 7.0 (6.5 each) | 100 / 5.0 | PTE 76; LanguageCert 75; Cambridge 185 |
TOEFL moved to a new 1 to 6 scale in January 2026, so check which scale your score uses. Most universities want results no more than two years old. Groningen accepts Cambridge and Linguaskill results with no expiry date.
Home or online tests
- Not accepted: VU Amsterdam, UvA Humanities and Wageningen refuse IELTS Online and TOEFL Home Edition.
- Only if test centres are closed or unsafe: Leiden, Groningen and TU Delft.
- Accepted for now, but not for visa purposes: RSM. Non-EEA students who need a visa should test at a centre.
How to claim an English test exemption
- Read the programme page: check the university’s general rule and then the programme’s own admission page, because some programmes add conditions.
- Check your documents: see whether your transcript or diploma supplement already says English was the language of instruction.
- Request an MOI letter if needed: ask your registrar for a stamped, signed letter saying English was the only language of instruction for the whole programme. Groningen and VU accept this; Twente does not.
- Upload it in the language test section: put the proof where the test score would go in the application portal.
- Get written confirmation: if the rule is unclear, email admissions and keep the reply. At UvA Humanities, file a formal exemption request well before the deadline.
- Book a test as a fallback: if your answer is not back two months before your scholarship deadline, book a test. Results can take weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study in the Netherlands without IELTS?
Yes, if you meet your university’s exemption rule, usually prior study fully in English in a listed country or an English-taught IB. If not, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, PTE or LanguageCert can replace IELTS.
Is a medium of instruction letter accepted in the Netherlands?
At some universities. Groningen accepts an MOI letter for degrees from its listed countries, and VU accepts an official university statement. Twente says a letter is not enough.
Which Dutch university accepts a Nigerian degree instead of IELTS?
The University of Groningen exempts full-time English-taught degrees from Nigeria and several other African countries. UvA Humanities may accept any fully English-taught bachelor’s with a registrar’s statement. TU Delft and Wageningen do not.
Do Dutch scholarships need IELTS?
Most do not set their own test; they follow your admission rule. The University of Twente Scholarship is the exception that lists a minimum IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90.
Sources and updates
The exemption rules come from each university’s official pages: the University of Groningen English language requirements for 2027/28, Leiden University’s English proficiency sheet for master’s programmes, the UvA Graduate School of Humanities English requirements, VU Amsterdam’s master’s language requirements, Wageningen’s MSc English proficiency page, the University of Twente’s English exemption page, TU Delft’s MSc admission requirements, and RSM’s IBA English requirements. Scholarship details come from the Radboud Scholarship Programme page, the University of Twente Scholarship page, TU Delft’s scholarships page and Study in NL’s NL Scholarship page. I checked these on 24 October 2026. Rules change each year, so confirm on your programme’s page before you apply.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
